U.S. President Barack Obama joked with members of the political press at the White House Correspondents Dinner about the coverage of Donald Trump. Did the media mold Trump into the presumptive Republican nominee?

Donald Trump has dominated headlines and media coverage since he announced his U.S. presidential candidacy last June. Out of an original field of 17 Republican candidates, he is the last one standing, making him the presumptive nominee for the party.

The coverage of his campaign has led some critics to accuse the media of creating the Trump phenomenon. But as CCTV’s Jim Spellman reports, it’s not that simple.

The Heat: U.S. media’s role in the presidential elections PT1

U.S. President Barack Obama joked with members of the political press at the White House Correspondents Dinner about the coverage of Donald Trump. Did the media mold Trump into the presumptive Republican nominee?

The Heat: U.S. media’s role in the presidential elections PT2

To discuss the role of the media in the U.S. presidential elections:
Cenk Uygur is host of The Young Turks, which calls itself the largest online news show in the world.
Vincent Harris is a conservative media strategist who has developed digital strategies for politicians, including Senators Rand Paul and Ted Cruz.
Pamela Rutledge is a media psychologist and director of the Media Psychology Research Center.